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Big Words for Little People Hardcover – Picture Book, September 9, 2008

by Jamie Lee Curtis (Author), Laura Cornell (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 389 ratings
See all formats and editions
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“A gracefully appropriate addition to the duo’s superb collection.” —Kirkus

The eighth hilarious picture book by the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell helps little people communicate in a big person's world.

With grown-up words like cooperate, respect, patience, and considerate, a large, boisterous family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words—big or little—are the bridge that connects us all.

I know some Big Words.
I'll teach them to you.
Although you are small,
you can use Big Words too.

Big Words aren't scary.
They're big fun to learn.
I was taught once
and now it's your turn.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    2 - 5 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Dimensions
    11.25 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
  6. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  7. Publication date
    September 9, 2008
  8. ISBN-10
    0061127590
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0061127595
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

I know some Big Words.
I'll teach them to you.
Although you are small,
you can use Big Words too.

Big Words aren't scary.
They're big fun to learn.
I was taught once
and now it's your turn.

The eighth hilarious picture book by the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell helps little people communicate in a big person's world. With grown-up words like cooperate, respect, patience and considerate, a big, boisterous and zany family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words—big or little—are the bridge that connects us all.

About the Author

Jamie Lee Curtis loves big words but doesn't know how to spell many of them. She adores her family life, which includes the amazing Annie, the miraculous Tom and the hilarious and loving Christopher. She advocates for children around the world and appreciates her friends, family and colleagues. She lives in stunning and sunny southern California with her rotund dog, Frances.

A Look Inside Big Words for Little People (Click on Images to Enlarge)

"I Know Some Big Words..." "Perseverance Is to Try and to Try..."

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—Throughout the trials and errors of growing up, children are bound to hear some big words from the adults around them—words that are big in size and in meaning. In rhyming verse, Curtis explains some of these important terms and just when young listeners might encounter them. "If you need some time/to just be alone,/for doing weird dancing,/to sit still as stone,/if someone is there/and you need to pee,/then say loud and clear, 'Hey, I need PRIVACY!'" Through the course of an average day, the spunky multicultural siblings depicted in Cornell's childlike watercolors encounter many other concepts, including "consequence," "cooperate," "appropriate," "patience," "family," "respect," and "love." Each word is highlighted in hand lettering by the illustrator. Some of the verses are awkwardly worded in order to complete the rhyme, but the author's fans are unlikely to care. More notably, Curtis once again demonstrates her trademark sensibility for childhood's simultaneously awkward and silly moments while focusing on the positive values learned from these experiences. Cornell keeps the tone ever lighthearted with her charmingly busy illustrations. This is a solid addition to any picture-book collection and a must-have where the author has a strong following.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (September 9, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061127590
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061127595
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.25 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 389 ratings

About the author

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Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis

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Jamie Lee Curtis is the author of twelve best-selling children's books that address core childhood subjects and life lessons in a playful, accessible way. Jamie finds the inspiration for her writing all around her – in the experiences of her children, her godchildren, her friends – and of course in her own life. Her first book, When I Was Little, was sparked by her then-four-year-old daughter's boast that she was no longer “little.” Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born, a celebration of adoption and the start of a new family, was inspired by the adoption of her own children. And as an author, of course Jamie loves big words and knows that words have power. Her latest book, Big Words for Little People, gives young children the knowledge and power of their own “big words.” All of Jamie's best-selling picture books are illustrated by Laura Cornell: Big Words for Little People; Is There Really A Human Race?; It's Hard To Be Five: Learning How To Work My Control Panel; I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self Esteem; Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery; Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day; Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born; When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old's Memoir of Her Youth; and This Is Me. Jamie is also well known as a film actress, with starring roles in such acclaimed films as Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Freaky Friday, True Lies, Trading Places and A Fish Called Wanda. Jamie is the mother of Annie and Thomas and is married to actor/director Christopher Guest. They live in California.

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Julie Neal
5.0 out of 5 stars A goofy treasure
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2008
Verified Purchase
This picture book about seven siblings learning big words is a quirky delight. By the time I was done I felt I knew the specific personalities of each family member inside out.

Here is a family that everyone will recognize. A preteen daughter who needs her privacy, loves pink, and dances through life. The next in line, a son obsessed with magic tricks, who loves to play with his baby sister's curls. An effervescent Asian girl, in love with "The Sound of Music." Twin toddlers who are picky eaters. An adopted African-American preschooler who can spell CAT. A brand-new baby girl. Add in an orange cat that steals the car keys, a miniature dog named Leo and a fat white duck, and you have a full house.

The subtle theme of the book is that everyone is different and has a unique personality, which makes life interesting. All kids will be able to relate.

If you keep looking, you'll notice dozens and dozens of humorous little details. I love the "Cut `n' Tape Lederhosen" that keep turning up throughout the book. My favorite part of the whole book is the inside back cover, which shows a collection of the family's photos hanging on a wall. The photos show the kids at various ages, growing up. Apparently the little Asian girl was adopted overseas; there is a picture of the oldest girl and boy on a plane with her, gently putting headphones on her baby ears. A funny photo shows the oldest girl holding one of the twins, and next to her the preschool Asian girl holds the other twin around the neck -- the baby's face is blue! Photos of the cat as a kitten and the dog as a teeny puppy (smaller than a leaf!) are next to a photo I puzzled over. Then I realized... it's an egg, on a hot water bottle! The pet duck, about to hatch, of course.

The writing is terrific, and the watercolor-over-pen-and-ink illustrations are expressive and amazingly detailed. Both kids and parents will love this one.

Similar in tone and detail are the Fancy Nancy books:  Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany (Fancy Nancy) , Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly (Fancy Nancy) , Fancy Nancy Loves! Loves!! Loves!!! (Fancy Nancy)  and many more.
24 people found this helpful
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prisrob
5.0 out of 5 stars Words Are For Living
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
My granddaughter who is four loves to learn new words. When I say a word that is new to her, she will ask me what it means. A little four year old mind wants to expand her universe.

Jamie Lee Curtis is known for writing exciting new books that leave messages of learning and lessons. In this book she writes in rhyme, and the sequence is delightful. The words she chooses all have relevance and will expand your child's universe. Words like Privacy, Consequence, Cooperate and Patience. Parents/teachers will open up many discussions with the children they read to. Your child will practice the word and want to use it in a sentence. Do not be surprised if your child asks for Privacy in the days after reading this book. Your children will be so proud of the words they have learned and learned to use. The illustrations by Laura Cornell are bright, vivid and colorful! depicting all the words and sequence of events that led up to the use of these words. This will be such a fun time for everyone.

Recommended. prisrob 05-15-14
6 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars Really fun book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is such a fun book - very lyrical and perfect for learning some big words for our toddler, such as consequence, appropriate, inappropriate, patience, etc. We bought a second copy for friends. So fun!
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L 3
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite childrens books!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2022
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LOVED the message of this book- and it’s a great starter for little ones to use big words. The illustrations are adorable. Bought a this for my 3 & 5 yr old grandies.
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teachgus
5.0 out of 5 stars Big Words for Little People
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2009
Verified Purchase
Inspirational!!!! ~Okay, I can't recall if THAT word is in Jamie Curtis' book but if it isn't it should be! This book takes words that children have heard adults use (all those long and involved ones that sound so smart!) and explains them in a way little people really can relate to! I teach kindergarten and this book will be a permanent part of my writing curriculum. I'm using it to introduce the children to the idea that there are words they can use besides "good" and "bad" when they write their OWN stories.
Bravo for you, Ms. Curtis! ~and thank you for a book teachers and parents can use that is fun, entertaining, and educational!--->that perfect combination! Fabulous, stupendous, sensational, incredible!
3 people found this helpful
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Marg-Gram
4.0 out of 5 stars A more "delicate" wording
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2008
Verified Purchase
When I saw Jamie Lee on the Today Show, I immediately emailed my grown children to see if they already had the book for my grandkids. We are big on reading to them and books are standard birthday and Christmas presents and I definitely wanted this one for them.

I love the artwork, the idea of the book and the great definition explanations except for the "Privacy" pages. We're trying to encourage our youngest ones to use "nice" language in this context. So with my "apologies" to Jamie Lee, I'd prefer a more "delicate" wording such as [my alternative parts],

" If you need some time [in the bathroom] alone for doing weird dancing, to sit still as a stone, [and] someone is [in there just utter this plea and] say loud and clear, "Hey, I need PRIVACY !"

The book is cute, colorful and easily understood by youngsters. Thanks, Jame Lee.
4 people found this helpful
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cayres
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun way of teaching words!
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2009
Verified Purchase
This is the first JLC book I purchased because, to be honest, the illustrations didn't appeal to me on the books and I wasn't sure the stories would appeal to my 3 1/2 year old. I'm glad I read the description on this one and decided to purchase it.

My daughter loves this book. Since the first night we read it before bed, she's had me read it every evening or before nap for a week straight. She has a hard time pronouncing some of the words, but she tries. She's also getting better with word association because we had fun with it in this book. Whenever I say "disgusting" she always responds with "yucky" or "ick". 8)

I'm now going to take a second look at the books by JLC when we go to the bookstore and am thinking about getting  Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day . I'm very pleased with my purchase and would recommend these books to any parent who has a child that enjoys picture books.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Liubov
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great book for my toddler
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maryam
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Perfect how my kids
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buhimaman
5.0 out of 5 stars 子どもに難しい言葉を教える本
Reviewed in Japan on March 2, 2009
Verified Purchase
　子どもだって難しい言葉を使おうよ、覚えるのは楽しいよ、という呼びかけのあと、privacy, impossible, stupendous, superb, consequence...など18個のbig word が、場面の状況から子どもにも言葉の意味が分かるように、にぎやかなさし絵と文で描かれています。
　cooperate, appropriate, patience, inconsiderate, persevere といった単語が出てくるところを見ると、単に長い単語を覚えさせるというよりも、子どもにきちんと道理を説くために必要な単語が選ばれているようです。
　big word は音節数の多い長い単語を指し、「難しい言葉」と訳すのが通例と思われますが、それだけではないことが最後に出てくるbiggest big word と紹介されている単語から分かります。
4 people found this helpful
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